Wildlife officials successfully freed a terrified hogtied humpback whale stuck in a huge 300-pound crab pot, in a touching story of human compassion. This heartwarming tale, which emphasizes the cooperative efforts that preserved the magnificent animal, was released by the National Park Service.
On October 10, off the shore of Gustavus, Alaska, vigilant locals noticed the distressed whale, sparking the start of the journey. The “Icy Strait” is a beautiful stretch of land enclosed by Glacier Bay National Park that is a favored feeding habitat for humpback whales in the spring, summer, and fall.
But this humpback was not sitting down to a leisurely lunch. Instead, it was “hogtied,” trailing two buoys, making strange noises, and finding it difficult to move about freely. According to Janet Neilson, an NPS whale biologist, the whale was “curved into a C-shaped posture,” unable to swim straight because of a tight fishing line that ran from its mouth to its tail.
A second look revealed that 450 feet of solid line and a 300-pound crab pot were stolen. It seemed likely that the whale had been entangled for three days. It turns out that humpback whales can frequently break free from entanglements by breaching and shaking off the gear. Unfortunately, the risk increases with the passage of time.
Now for the story’s heroes: the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even as the entangled whale tried to escape, a group of rescuers, lead by Janet Neilson, found it with perseverance and persistence.
With some rescuers in a small boat and others keeping an eye on things from a research vessel, the rescue operation was carried out in a coordinated manner. A drone piloted by a seventh individual captured a bird’s-eye perspective, and specialists from Hawaii examined the photos.
The procedure was gradually severing the connections, letting the whale come to the surface for short periods of time. The last line, a rope around the whale’s tail, was cut after seven hours of hard labor. The squad let out cheers, but the real triumph was when the whale disappeared from view, free and unhindered.
Once back on land, scientists identified the whale as a juvenile visitor to Glacier Bay by using HappyWhale, a website that uses picture processing algorithms. The whale, identified as SEAK-5490, has a scar on its back from an earlier run-in with a boat’s propeller, and its age is estimated to be 3 or 4 years.
Neilson warned well-meaning people; however he hoped for more sightings in the future. Avoid the temptation to take a knife and save the day if you come across a tangled whale. Because whales are massive and possibly hazardous, it might be detrimental to attempt to interfere without proper experience. Rather, stay well away, give a call to NOAA or the U.S. Coast Guard, and let the experts handle the rescue.
Ultimately, this touching story serves as a reminder that human intervention—as long as it is done with skill and caution—can significantly contribute to the preservation of our aquatic friends’ well-being.
